Support for multiconductor electrical cables



Jan. 27, 1948. Y J. E. GALL 2,434,918

SUPPORT FOR MULTICONDUCTOR ELECTRICAL CABLES Filed July 14, 1945 gwumvbob JAMES- E. GALL ,unit for another unit.

Patented Jan. 27, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORT FOR MULTICONDUCTOR ELECTRICAL CABLES (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) This invention relates to article supports, and more particularly to structures for supporting multi-conductor electrical cables.

In some types of electrical apparatus, and particularly in multi-unit electronic apparatus, it is sometimes desirable to make the units thereof readily interchangeable. One method of accomplishing this is to mount the individual units on platforms which may be slid forward from the apparatus housing to permit access to the individual units. Efiicient interchangeability requires, in addition, that the cables interconnecting the several units be easy to disconnect and to remove from the unit, and yet that they be so supported that upon substitution of a new unit, reconnection may be readily effected.

In order to accomplish this, one practice has been to bunch the individual conductors together into a group and simply to push the group out of the way when the conductors are disconnected from their associated terminals. In addition to the difficulties involved in relocation of the individual conductors where conductors are so grouped, the strain placed on the individual conductors and their terminals as the unit is moved out of its supporting rack often results in damage to both the terminals and the conductors.

An object of the present invention is to provide an efficient and effective cable support which will permit ready interchangeability of the unit associated therewith without danger of damaging either the cable or the apparatus.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, as applied to electrical equipment where the units thereof are supported as hereinbefore described, a duct is provided for receiving and retaining the conductors and is removably mounted on the unit. Apertures are formed along a side of the duct to permit the ends of the conductors to extend therethrough and be connected to the unit terminals. When the unit is pulled forward from the rack, the strain i applied to the duct and to the cable as a whole and no strain is placed on the terminals. After the conductors are disconnected from the terminals, the duct is slid rearward along and into a housing fixed to the apparatus rack, or cabinet, thus removing the conductors and duct from the unit and permitting access to the unit, or exchanging of the Thereafter, when it is 2 desired to reconnect the several conductors, the duct is pulled forward and locked in position, thereby locating the conductors adjacent the proper terminals.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the single figure, wherein a portion of a unit of electrical apparatus is shown in perspective, having a cable support constructed in accordance with this invention associated therewith.

Referring now to the drawing, a portion of a conventional electrical equipment unit desig nated generally as 5, is there illustrated. Such units are customarily designed to be pulled forward from an apparatus rack to permit access to the unit or to exchange the unit for another unit. For purposes of illustration, a simple form of sliding support is shown in the drawing comprising two pairs of spaced, parallel horizontally disposed beams 6 which are mounted on the inner sides of four vertically disposed posts I, which form a portion of an apparatus rack and are disposed substantially at the four corners of a rectangle. The beams 6 serve as ways and each pair slidably supports therebetween a bar, or rail 8, one of which is mounted on either side of the unit and which cooperate to support the unit. The forward ends of the bars 8, as viewed in the drawing, are fixed to and support a front plate 9, which is provided with a pair of handles Ill to facilitate moving the unit into or out of the rack.

A terminal late assembly I2 is mounted along the inner side of the right hand bar 8, as viewed in the drawing, and is provided with a plurality of terminals I3 from which electrical connection may be made to the various elements which may be assembled in the unit, as is well known in the art.

Ordinarily, as hereinbefore stated, a multiconductor cable is used to connect the several terminals on the terminal plate to the power supply of the apparatus or to the various other units which may be contained in the apparatus rack. It will readily be apparent from a consideration of the drawing that where a cable of this type is employed, as a unit is pulled forward from the rack, the strain incurred by the normal stiffness of the cable and its components may well formed by an elongated rectangular base plate.

It having a pair of side walls I! and I8 eXtend-' ing upwardly, as shown in the drawing, at sub-x stantially right angles thereto. H, which faces the terminal assembly I2, is pro- Vided with a number of spaced, oval apertures '15.. The side wall;

[9 through which groups of thezconductorsxlS:

may extend. By grouping the conductorswhich are to be connected to a particular section-of' the terminal plate l2, and providing an aperture,

adjacent each section it will beapparent: that:

the difficulties involved in locating the individual conductors of the cable with respecttotheter-l. minals to which they are tobeconnectedis materially. reduced.

The duct is removably supportedon the :unit by a bracket 20 which is mounted on the inner: side of the front plate 5 and a cross plate 2! which is mountedv between the lower sides of the railsS beneath the rear end of the duct. When the conductors i5 are attached to their terminals 13; the duct is normally loclzed in' position by a screw 22 carried by the forward portion of the base plate [5 thereof and threaded into and engaging the upper portion ofthe bracket 20. In this position, the rear portion of the duct rests on the cross plate 2! and is fixed thereto by'a' clip23-mounted on the underside of the base plate l-l'and provided with an offset forward portion 24 whioh' when-the duct is pulled forward, slips underthe cross plate 2 land secures the duct thereto.

In order to provide a readily:removable-cover for the duct, an elongated rectangularcover'plate 25 may be positioned'onthe upperside of the duct, and is retained in position .by anumber: of lugs 26, integrally formed with theright edge thereof as viewed'in this figure, and transverselylthroughz whichextend screws 2 1- which threadedlyiengage suitably positioned lugs 29 integrally formed wi-th and extending at rightanglesfrom the upperright edge of the side plate ll. As-shown, a flange- 28. is integrally fonnedwith the left side wall I 8, of the duct and extendsto the right therefromat right angles so that when the screwsil are-tight ened the upper left. edge of the cover-plate .21 engages the underside of the flange and forms tight but easilyremovable covering.

The rear portion of the cable l4 extends into. a rectangular box-shaped housing 30. which is mounted between the rear portions 0f the hori: zontal. bars 6. The opposing upper and lower, faces of these bars may be recessed slightly'so that the housing may be made sufficientlyhgh' to receive the bars 8 as the unit isslidintothe rack assembly. Thus when the unit is'pushed" into the rack, the rear portions of the bars-8 enter the housing 33 and the cable- M will tend to coil itself in the housing. On the otherhand, it while the unit 5 is pulled forward from the rack, it is desired disconnect the conductors-l5 from the terminal assembly the ends of tl eccnductors are disconnected from the-terminal screws- I3, the bracket screw 22 1s removed and theduct is slid rearwardly into the housing 30, which then serves as a temporary support for the duct. Thereafter when the duct is moved back into position, by virtue of the spaced apertures IS in the side wall of the duct through which the conductors l5 extend, relocation of the ends of the conductors with their associated terminals is greatly facilitated. In the event that it is desired to change the location of any of the conductors, the screws 2'! which hold the cover plate 25 of theduct in placerare removed, thBlCOVGT plate is then removed permitting access to the duct interior.

Where herein the various parts of the invention havebeen referred to as being located in a right orileft,,;or upper or lower position, it will be understood that this is done solely for the purpose offacilitatingdescription, and that the references relateonlytotherelative position of the parts as shown in the accompanying drawing.

While 'but one embodiment of this invention hasabeen shown and described, it will be understoodthat manychanges and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of. the present invention.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of. Americafor governmental purposes without. the paymentzof any. royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

1. In a support fora readily interchangeable electrical unit; a rack, a unit removably mounted therein having a plurality ofterminal associated therewith, a multi-conductor cable fixedly mounted on said rack and extending therefroma length sumcient 'topermit electrical connection thereof to said. unit terminals while said unit. is partially removed from said'rack, a supportfor the terminail-connecting endofsaid cable'including a duct removably mountedon said'unit, adjacent to' said terminals and having formed in a sidethereof adjacent to said. terminals at least' one aperture to permit a conductor toextend therethrough and to be connected to-a terminahandarecess in said rack adaptedto receive said'duct and said cable While saidunit is positioned withinsaid" rack 01" while theterminals of' a unit are "disconnected from saidcable and the-unit is removed-from-said rack."

2. 'In' a support fora readily interchangeable electricalunity a raclaa unit removably-mounted therein: having-a plurality of terminals associated therewith-,a multi-conductorcabl'e fixedly mounted on said rack-andextending therefrom-a length suificient topermitelectrical connection thereof to said unit terminals while saidunit is partiallyremoved from*said-rack,-a supportfor the terminal-connecting end ofsaidcable including a ductremovably mounted on-said unit adjacent to said terminals} said duct" including a baseplate; side platesrnounted along opposed-edges of said-base plateanda removable-cover; said duct having formed in one of: said side plates adjacent to' said terminals at'-least oneaperture topermit a con ductor. to extend therethrough and to becon-- nected to a .terminalg and a recess in said-rack adapted to receivesaidi duct and said cable while said unit-is positioned within said rack orvrhle' theterminals oi a unit aredisconnectedfrom said cablei and, the unit islremovedrfrom said-neck;

'In'an electricail apparatushaving a, unit as.-

sociated 'ltherewi-th adapted: to zbel-pulled. forward from; saidzapparatus, said unit; having a terminal assembly: z-mountecb thereon; 1 a multi conduotori cable support comprising a duct for supporting a portion of said cable adjacent to said terminal assembly and having formed in a side thereof adjacent to said terminal assembly at least one aperture to permit a conductor to extend therethrough and to be connected to said terminal assembly, said duct being removable from said unit and adapted to be moved into said apparatus while said unit is moved forward from said apparatus. JAMES E. GALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Luschka Aug. 23, 1910 Konigslow, Sr. Feb. 17, 1920 Lilleberg Feb. 23, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Oct. 23, 1941 

